Health could prove terminal for the states

  • Mike Steketee

08 March 2010With the commonwealth holding the purse strings, co-operative federalism is wearing thin, writes Mike Steketee in the Australian

KEVIN Rudd did more than announce big bang health reform this week: he kicked off what he called "one of the most significant reforms to the federation in its history".

The Prime Minister tends to overdo the superlatives but he has a point. You could put it another way: he has knocked one more nail into the states' coffin.

In 1995, Queensland premier Wayne Goss said: "What we will witness within a generation is the de facto, if not de jure, abolition of the states." His prediction looks to be on track...

Read the full article

 

Related Topics

Politics

Health

Related content

Most viewed: This week

1
Web and Information Coordinator - Australian Policy Online (Position number: 29499)
2
Can nations measure well-being?
3
Six provocations for big data
4
What do pop-up shops and homelessness have in common?
5
Evidence-free policy making? The case of income management

Noticeboard

Australian Community Sector Survey
03 May 2012

Strengthen our voice - take part in the Australian Community Sector Survey

There's just under two weeks to go for Victoria's community sector organisations to help us provide an authentic snapshot of the state of demand for services in the state.

Indigenous Health Bulletin turns 30
03 April 2012

The Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin turns 30 on Sunday, 1 April.

The Australian Indigenous Health Bulletin started life in April 1982 as a hard-copy publication. It is now a peer-reviewed electronic journal published by the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.

Women's Health Victoria survey now open
08 March 2012

Women's Health Victoria (WHV) is a statewide women's health promotion, information and advocacy organisation, working with policy makers and health professionals to influence and inform health policy and service delivery.

The online survey is open to anyone who has used WHV's services, resources, or websites in the past 12 months. It covers: WHV publications, professional training, The Index database of gendered statistics, WHV Clearinghouse, BreaCan Service (supporting people diagnosed with breast or gynaecological cancer), capacity building, member services, and more.

Topics

APO